Johnson Controls expands seating foam production in Mexico

By: Kerri Jansen

February 19, 2014

Johnson Controls Inc. has opened a 100,000-square-foot automotive seat foam plant in Queretaro, Mexico. The plant will provide molded polyurethane foam seating components for major automakers in central Mexico, the company announced Feb. 17. Production started this month.

Johnson Controls is headquartered in Glendale, Wis., with its automotive business based in Plymouth, Mich. The Queretaro facility, which represents a $23 million investment for JCI, is the company's 25th in Mexico. Construction took place from March-October of last year.

The plant has one production line and employs 150 people, with more jobs to be added as the plant ramps up to full production in an estimated five years, according to a company release. At full production, the plant will operate an anticipated two or three production lines, a company spokesperson said.

The company declined to provide projected production numbers.

JCI's automotive business, which also supplies door and instrument panels, overhead systems and interior electronics, operates more than 240 plants worldwide, with 2013 sales of $21.8 billion, according to a company fact sheet.